Source(s):
Christine Kelly-Begazo ckelly@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-7938
Bob Black rblack@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1835, ext. 355
Sandy Wilson sbwilson@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (561) 468-3922, ext. 132

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When it comes to home landscaping, planting the right plant in the right place can save money and help plants thrive in their new environment, say University of Florida horticulture experts.

“Just remember ‘right plant, right place,’ and you’ll avoid one of the most common mistakes in home landscaping,” said Christine Kelly-Begazo, statewide coordinator for UF’s Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program. “A little planning will help in the proper selection and placement of plants so they thrive under local growing conditions.”

The FYN program promotes low-maintenance landscaping using both native and non-native species, she said. Putting the right plant in the right place is one of the main guidelines of the extension program, offered to residents around the state by UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Other goals include water conservation, appropriate use of fertilizer and integrated pest management.

Plant selection begins with a site analysis to determine soil fertility, rainfall, sun exposure and nearby plant species, Kelly-Begazo said. Next, homeowners should consider their landscaping goals and decide what the new plant’s function, size and appearance should be.

“With this information, your local nursery or UF extension office can help you select species that are practical and beautiful,” she said. “Florida consumers have so many options that it’s good to have professional help in making a choice.”

Ideally, landscapes should be designed so that plants are grouped according to their maintenance needs, said Bob Black, an associate professor in UF’s environmental horticulture department.

“This minimizes the amount of irrigation and fertilizer that you need to apply, which also saves money and helps conserve resources,” he said.

Reduced irrigation is becoming more important to Florida gardeners, Black said. Both native and non-native plants can be used in low-maintenance landscapes.

“Florida has many different soil types and moisture conditions, so you cannot follow a one-size-fits-all-approach,” he said. “For example, native plants from wetland areas may require frequent irrigation if they’re grown in the drier parts of the state, whereas non-native species accustomed to arid climates might do fine with only natural rainfall.”

FYN programs, which now serve more than 40,000 residents in 40 of Florida’s 67 counties, continue to expand, said Sandy Wilson, an assistant professor at UF’s Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce.

“The program has really taken off in recent years, and one big reason is the public’s growing awareness about the need to protect the state’s water resources,” Wilson said. “Homeowners want to do the right thing, but sometimes they need a little help. FYN encourages them to think about their yards as part of the larger ecosystem.”

Wilson said some homeowners diminish their own efforts to maintain beautiful yards by excessive irrigation and fertilizer use. Besides encouraging weeds and pests, these practices can contribute to water pollution.

“Runoff from lawns can carry pesticide and fertilizer to ground water or surface water miles away,” she said. “We just want to make sure that cause-and-effect relationship is clear, because all Floridians depend on high quality water.”

Wilson said UF’s statewide extension service maintains more than 50 demonstration landscapes in communities around the state, providing visitors with information on low-maintenance plants and the FYN program.

For more information, visit the FYN Web site: http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn.

-30-

0